Embrace Life

#augustbreak2014 | 21 treasures

I have a list of things I'd like to collect, it's not a long list but it is one with meaning. You know, the "want not need" kind of list. I have been looking for a happy Buddha for a couple of years and finally found it in a small shop in Barnstable when we visited this summer.

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Susannah Conway is again hosting this community project - simply take a photograph every day for the whole month of August. Live inside each moment and pay attention to what is around you.

<<< Click on the button and to go to her page and see the list of prompts.

There are lots of posting options - blog, Twitter, Flickr, Instagram, just be sure to use the #augustbreak2014 hashtag!

Wishcasting | 25, 26, 27 & 28

I had started random Wishcasting years ago. In January of this year I signed up to take the course through the year starting with prompt 1; prompts 2 - 4, prompts 5 - 8 and then managed to let other things get in the way! I've decided to catch up so this is officially Wishcasting Week: 4 prompts a day for the next six days!

WISHCASTING | 25 What do you wish to DARE?

I am in the process of mapping out a book. A book along the lines of those books I enjoy reading: books by Sarah Addison Allen or Katherine Center or Jan Karon or Alice Hoffman. Nice stories with good messages that are a bit of an escape from the pace and pressures of every day. I want characters like people I'd enjoy in my life every day - after all, they will be in my life every day. I want settings that feel comfortable and warm but not like home, more like a familiar place to visit. I want lessons that resonate but don't feel too preachy or judgmental. I wish to dare to not only write these books but submit them and have them published.

What about you? What do you wish to dare?

WISHCASTING | 26 What do you wish for your SPACE?

Once everything is moved into our new home, new furniture is purchased and arranged, art and curtains are hung, I wish for my space to be 100% clean and organized 100% of the time. I have recently let go my cleaning crew as they were doing a less than adequate job as the weeks went by and I was tired of paying for something sub-standard. Now I'm in twice the space with half the help! Crazy. But, now everything has it's place and there is no excuse for clutter and disarray. I am just as much a culprit as the kids, but since the whole space is mine, there is more for me to manage. I just want them to manage theirs, regularly :)

What about you? What do you wish for your space?

WISHCASTING | 27 What do you wish to make TIME for?

Reading. I wish to make time for reading. I seem to have managed to make time for writing and creating but I have forgotten one of the most important things! Reading. I am always reading magazines and online articles, but I don't often make time to sit down in my big reading chair with a thick book filled with all manner of stories and characters and settings and plots and drama and emotion and facts and pace and concepts and climax and conflict. My bookshelves are bursting with unread books. I wish to make time to read every unread book in my home and on my Kindle!

What about you? What do you wish to make time for?

WISHCASTING | 28 What do you wish to LEARN?

I wish to learn to make beautiful things. To start, I'd like to create with words and clay, much like the items found at paper boat press (in Australia). I love the idea of a small gift shop where I am able to sell items I make by hand. I want to knit - or at least find the patience to knit - nice heavy and chunky throws. I'd like to re-learn how to sew as I have a few crafty ideas rattling around in my head. I'd also like to make some jewelry - or at least learn the basics of it. I’d like to learn how to use my pendulum and get more in touch with my intuition and energy. So much!

What about you? What do you wish to learn?

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These are responses to the prompts found in Jamie Ridler's 52-week e-course: What If You Filled Your Year With Wishes. Though I'm more goal-oriented than a dream-believer, I have a fondness for wishes. Recently, there has been much heart-work done and I can be more authentic, more gentle and more kind with myself and my wishes.

#augustbreak2014 | 20 peaceful

Any day that starts with rain is a peaceful one around here. It seems to bring with it a slower pace around the house - and certainly cancels out any outdoor chores or plans! Today, I just want to get a book (currently reading: Boys in the Boat, at half-way through I highly recommend) and blanket and read my day away.

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Susannah Conway is again hosting this community project - simply take a photograph every day for the whole month of August. Live inside each moment and pay attention to what is around you.

<<< Click on the button and to go to her page and see the list of prompts.

There are lots of posting options - blog, Twitter, Flickr, Instagram, just be sure to use the #augustbreak2014 hashtag!

Wishcasting | 21, 22, 23 & 24

I had started random Wishcasting years ago. In January of this year I signed up to take the course through the year starting with prompt 1; prompts 2 - 4, prompts 5 - 8 and then managed to let other things get in the way! I've decided to catch up so this is officially Wishcasting Week: 4 prompts a day for the next six days!

WISHCASTING | 21 What do you wish someone would SAY TO YOU?

I wish someone would tell me what is exactly wrong with my thyroid and exactly how to fix it. I want someone to lay out the steps. "Lee, if you do 1. then 2. then 3. then the chemicals in the medication will finally attach to the right part of the cell and actually work within your biochemistry and as a result you will be healthier, rested, thinner and fitter." I would love to have someone give me the exact formula to make it easier for me to manage my life, every day.

What about you? What do you wish someone would say to you?

WISHCASTING | 22 What do you wish to EXPERIENCE?

This is something I've been pondering for a while. I wish to experience my children cherishing and being cherished by partners who understand their value. I wish to experience being a grandmother - I've even chosen my grandma-name, though I'm sure #1 grandchild will come up with something else. I want to experience a finished to-do list. I want to experience having my novel (then series) published and on the Globe & Mail or New York Times best seller list for one week - or many weeks. I want to experience companionable silence with a lovely partner of my own. I want to experience a reasonably cool body temperature for a whole day. I wish to experience a full night of sleep leaving me fully rested and sharp.

What about you? What do you wish to experience?

WISHCASTING | 23 What do you wish to RECLAIM?

I wish to reclaim all of the fabulous stories and amazing characters I was able to make up for the little boys and girls I babysat while I was a teenager. Somehow in the process of having and caring for my own children, that part of my brain, the part that could create with limitless abandon, disappeared. I'd like to get back to that state where I can live in my head for a bit, forget about getting kids fed, clothed, washed, comforted, educated, to sports and arts events on time, all those things that keep me very busy through my days. I know that time is coming with all four of my kids claiming their independence in different ways. This may be the perfect thing for me to focus upon and distract me from all the upcoming changes in my world.

What about you? What do you wish to reclaim?

WISHCASTING | 24 What do you wish to ASK FOR?

I don't often ask for anything. I do my best to be self-sufficient and independent within the natural boundaries of my life. I suppose I could ask for a cure for psoriasis, or thyroid disease? World peace? A cure for the Ebola virus and Cancer (though, the latter has it's own economy, it's not in the interest of anyone except those suffering to find an actual cure). A better, kinder, understanding and tolerance for depression and other mental illnesses. I wish to ask my children to clean their rooms, the communal living space in our home, their bathroom. I wish to ask for patience and kindness to prevail over profit and expedience. I wish to ask for many things that have nothing, but perhaps everything, to do with me and those I love around me.

What about you? What do you wish to ask for?

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These are responses to the prompts found in Jamie Ridler's 52-week e-course: What If You Filled Your Year With Wishes. Though I'm more goal-oriented than a dream-believer, I have a fondness for wishes. Recently, there has been much heart-work done and I can be more authentic, more gentle and more kind with myself and my wishes.

#augustbreak2014 | 19 black + white

Cole is going in to boarding school for Grade 12 and we had to buy some supplies, so we were off to Target - around here, pronounced Tarjaaay :) The bedding he chose is black and white - with some blue accent pillows. He has great taste and it'll look great in his room this coming school year.

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Susannah Conway is again hosting this community project - simply take a photograph every day for the whole month of August. Live inside each moment and pay attention to what is around you.

<<< Click on the button and to go to her page and see the list of prompts.

There are lots of posting options - blog, Twitter, Flickr, Instagram, just be sure to use the #augustbreak2014 hashtag!

Wishcasting | 17, 18, 19 & 20

I had started random Wishcasting years ago. In January of this year I signed up to take the course through the year starting with prompt 1; prompts 2 - 4, prompts 5 - 8 and then managed to let other things get in the way! I've decided to catch up so this is officially Wishcasting Week: 4 prompts a day for the next six days!

WISHCASTING | 17 What do you wish people KNEW about YOU?

I don't know that there is much I keep hidden. Perhaps I'd like people to know that I can be dreadfully naive and somewhat oblivious to malice unless it's right in my face - and even then I might need for it to be translated. To my detriment I always err on the belief that people are naturally kind and giving. I am often caught in a state of bafflement, asking myself "why?" when people display a mean or stingy nature.

What about you? What do you wish people knew about you?

WISHCASTING | 18 How do you wish to NOURISH yourself?

With only good things - or, let me re-word that. With only things I know are good for me. That includes food, drink, people, choices, books, workshops, programs, travel, art, distractions, involvements, concepts and ideas. I want to nourish myself by making choices that are in alignment not only with who I am right now but with who I am striving to be. What's that idea? "I will not compare my beginning or middle with someone elses end." It's time to not just incorporate all of those things, but to include some really positive self-speak. I'm done with negative motivation - it's time to embrace the kind and positive I offer everyone else for myself.

What about you? How do you wish to nourish yourself?

WISHCASTING | 19 What do you wish to MAKE ROOM for?

I wish to make room for a pool table in the basement. The kids have no and do not ask for much. This is the one thing they are all in agreement on, so I think I'll get the bookshelves loaded with the boxes of books and start my hunt for a table.

What about you? What do you wish to make room for?

WISHCASTING | 20 What do you wish to say YES to?

Ha! I am that mum who always says "yes". That's simply because I know that some other mum will say "no" and I'll not end up being the bad guy in any given situation. I say "yes" to whatever activity they want to persue as long as it doesn't put them at risk, well, not a lot of risk, there is risk in everything! I've also reset my personal default from "no" to "yes" over the last few years. If it does not put my safety or bank account at risk, I say "yes". What do I wish to say "yes" to right this minute? Eileen Fisher has a stunning cashmere cardigan I'd love to say "yes" to. Hmm. How many birthday gifts can a girl buy herself?

What about you? What do you wish to say yes to?

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These are responses to the prompts found in Jamie Ridler's 52-week e-course: What If You Filled Your Year With Wishes. Though I'm more goal-oriented than a dream-believer, I have a fondness for wishes. Recently, there has been much heart-work done and I can be more authentic, more gentle and more kind with myself and my wishes.

#augustbreak2014 | 18 jump

Do you think I could coordinate my four kids to jump on the count of 3? Nope! This is as good as it was going to get.

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Susannah Conway is again hosting this community project - simply take a photograph every day for the whole month of August. Live inside each moment and pay attention to what is around you.

<<< Click on the button and to go to her page and see the list of prompts.

There are lots of posting options - blog, Twitter, Flickr, Instagram, just be sure to use the #augustbreak2014 hashtag!

Wishcasting | 13, 14, 15 & 16

I had started random Wishcasting years ago. In January of this year I signed up to take the course through the year starting with prompt 1; prompts 2 - 4, prompts 5 - 8 and then managed to let other things get in the way! I've decided to catch up so this is officially Wishcasting Week: 4 prompts a day for the next six days!

WISHCASTING | 13 What do you wish to END?

Sleeping on the air mattress! Oh my aching bones (and everything else). We left some furniture in the townhouse in order for it to be staged nicely for sale. Among those pieces is my bed. I suppose I wish for the time on the market for my townhouse to end :)

What about you? What do you wish to end?

WISHCASTING | 14 What do you wish to TEND?

After a couple of years of not having a garden, I'm really feeling the pull to be out planting new things and tending to the upkeep and care of the new perennials I have in my new front and back yard. They are both quite sprawling, certainly in comparison with the couple of container plants I had become accustomed to looking after - badly!

What about you? What do you wish to tend?

WISHCASTING | 15 What do you wish to WELCOME IN?

I wish to welcome in a relationship. I signed up for LifeMates almost a full year ago. I was told at the time that my age and my height would make me a difficult match - on top of it my weight and my answers to the questionnaire would make it very difficult. It has been. I've had one sub-standard date and it's time to be more proactive! At around the same time, I signed up for match.com and the profile of the same man (local, friend of friends) is delivered to my in-box on a regular basis even though I have cancelled my subscription. He may not be the one I end up spending time with, but I wish to welcome in something!

What about you? What do you wish to welcome in?

WISHCASTING | 16 Where do you wish to go SLOW?

I wish for my years to go slow. With Claire going back to University in a few days and Cole moving into boarding, I look back over the last year, and then a couple of years before that with amazement at how quickly they've grown up. Sometimes my days go dreadfully slow, but the years are going by far too fast for my liking. I wish time to slow down so I can savour our time as long as we have it together.

What about you? Where do you wish to go slow?

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These are responses to the prompts found in Jamie Ridler's 52-week e-course: What If You Filled Your Year With Wishes. Though I'm more goal-oriented than a dream-believer, I have a fondness for wishes. Recently, there has been much heart-work done and I can be more authentic, more gentle and more kind with myself and my wishes.

hello monday | 133

hello leap of faith. i joined the beautiful writers group. i have enjoyed everything about danielle laporte so i don't expect this experience to disappoint.

hello softball. time to make up for all of rain outs with three games this week!

hello summer weather. i'm happy for the heat, let's hope the humidity stays away.

hello digital projects. i've started a few albums: recipe, wishcasting, #augustbreak2014, #100happydays and playing catch up with project life 2104.

hello volleyball camp. back to a second week of pakmen for caden. he is learning so much in spite of the pain in his feet and thighs! we're packing for madawaska. i love that he loves this sport!

hello freshen-up. i have been going to natalie at euphoria for years and always like how I look when I leave her salon (and our time to catch up). time for more red this week :)

hello lunch out. i am looking forward to going to august 8 with my friend robin. even with our boys on the same baseball team this summer we don't have a chance to catch up with our conflicting schedules - and the rain. this will be fun!

hello ikea. we don't need a lot, but it's time for bookshelves and a desk for claire to bring to school - next week!

hello final creative writing class. the course went by so quickly! i met some wonderful women, heard some amazing stoires and learned a ton. i'm looking forward to starting up again in the fall.

hello monday. you are my most favourite day of the week. i love that you provide me with 52 fresh starts every year.

 

what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments.

#augustbreak2014 | 17 bookshelf

When we moved into the new house we were in need of some bookshelves in Cole's room as he has the largest collection of books in need of a home. Off to Ikea he went and after an hour or so of banging and crashing he managed to build a set of shelves for his many books. AND he loaded the bookshelf before he showed me. I love progress!

 

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Susannah Conway is again hosting this community project - simply take a photograph every day for the whole month of August. Live inside each moment and pay attention to what is around you.

<<< Click on the button and to go to her page and see the list of prompts.

There are lots of posting options - blog, Twitter, Flickr, Instagram, just be sure to use the #augustbreak2014 hashtag!

Wishcasting | 09, 10, 11 & 12

I had started random Wishcasting years ago. In January of this year I signed up to take the course through the year starting with prompt 1; prompts 2 - 4, prompts 5 - 8 and then managed to let other things get in the way! I've decided to catch up so this is officially Wishcasting Week: 4 prompts a day for the next six days! 

WISHCASTING | 09 What LEAP do you wish to take?

I am an introvert by nature. Though I do enjoy a certain amount of social engagement, I am not one to put myself out there easily. There is one thing I used to do that I miss, a lot. Singing. I have sung my whole life, in choirs, as a soloist, part of a trio, at karayoke but have not sung much outside of the car in years! There is a local group: My Pop Choir, that performs a lot like a glee club. I've decided to just go for it and signed up for their fall session!

What about you? What leap do you wish to take?

WISHCASTING | 10 What do you wish to ENJOY?

I wish to enjoy cooking. Seriously. I am a very capable cook and regularly make well-balanced and delicious meals for me and my family. I have learned a ton through courses, the Food Network, cookbooks and seminars. The only thing I haven't learned is how to enjoy the process. I do enjoy the planning and the eating, I just don't enjoy anything else about cooking. I think the experience would be better if I could just learn to enjoy it since it's something I do at least once a day - every day.

What about you? What do you wish to enjoy?

WISHCASTING | 11 How do you wish to SHINE?

I have spent the last few months doing a lot of internal work on myself. Many hours have been spent practicing meditation and yoga along with walking, drinking water, eating right and reformer Pilates. Everyone tells me that I look great - which always begs the question of how bad I looked before :) - at any rate, I'm happy for the improvement. It is from this incredible place of alignment and inner peace that I wish to show others - and find new ways to express and improve it.

What about you? How do you wish to shine?

WISHCASTING | 12 What dream do you wish to EXPLORE?

My greatest dream should be simple, but it is turning out to be remarkably difficult: I want to explore the idea of being completely well. I want the weight gone, experience no pain and feel fully rested - every day. I continue to work hard to make this dream a reality. It's been very discouraging but at the same time I've learned so much and improved in so many other areas. Maybe that's the whole point?

What about you? What dream do you wish to explore?

_______________________________________________________________________

These are responses to the prompts found in Jamie Ridler's 52-week e-course: What If You Filled Your Year With Wishes. Though I'm more goal-oriented than a dream-believer, I have a fondness for wishes. Recently, there has been much heart-work done and I can be more authentic, more gentle and more kind with myself and my wishes.

#augustbreak2014 | 16 look down

The back deck is covered in clusters of oak leaves and acorns - as many eaten as discarded. I wonder what makes for a worthy acorn to a squirrel?

 

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Susannah Conway is again hosting this community project - simply take a photograph every day for the whole month of August. Live inside each moment and pay attention to what is around you.

<<< Click on the button and to go to her page and see the list of prompts.

There are lots of posting options - blog, Twitter, Flickr, Instagram, just be sure to use the #augustbreak2014 hashtag!

#augustbreak2014 | 15 blue

The hydrangeas in Cape Cod are very large, each flowerhead growing bigger than my open hand. They come in all colours but the blue are, to me, the most striking.

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Susannah Conway is again hosting this community project - simply take a photograph every day for the whole month of August. Live inside each moment and pay attention to what is around you.

<<< Click on the button and to go to her page and see the list of prompts.

There are lots of posting options - blog, Twitter, Flickr, Instagram, just be sure to use the #augustbreak2014 hashtag!

#augustbreak2014 | 14 hands

My youngest has always had beautiful hands. You know, the kind your mum always comments about in reference to piano lessons :) Well, my boy may not play the piano, but he does play the computer keyboard very well!

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Susannah Conway is again hosting this community project - simply take a photograph every day for the whole month of August. Live inside each moment and pay attention to what is around you.

<<< Click on the button and to go to her page and see the list of prompts.

There are lots of posting options - blog, Twitter, Flickr, Instagram, just be sure to use the #augustbreak2014 hashtag!

#augustbreak2014 | 13 my guilty pleasure

I have been watching GH since I was about six years of age. I remember being glued to the television when Luke and Laura got married. At my first job, I remember returning from work and catching up with the happenings of Port Charles. I remember nursing babies while barely being able to move in the late afternoons, dozing to the drama of Sonny, Jason and Carly. I am always amazed at how so many stories can be told, intertwined and still not overlap though they can become convoluted and confusing! Total fluff and I still love it :)

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Susannah Conway is again hosting this community project - simply take a photograph every day for the whole month of August. Live inside each moment and pay attention to what is around you.

<<< Click on the button and to go to her page and see the list of prompts.

There are lots of posting options - blog, Twitter, Flickr, Instagram, just be sure to use the #augustbreak2014 hashtag!

#augustbreak2014 | 12 on the table

The kitchen table is (miraculously) cleared so the only other table in the area is the small nesting tables in the family room. Always on it is plenty:

LampClicker (er, channel changer, remote or flipper)PeniPhonePerrierReading glassesKindleNotebookAgenda & reading assignments for creative writing class classMy new copy of "Artful Blogging"

As much as I profess to be a unitasker, I really don't like being at a loss for things to do! Every moment is full with something or another.

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Susannah Conway is again hosting this community project - simply take a photograph every day for the whole month of August. Live inside each moment and pay attention to what is around you.

<<< Click on the button and to go to her page and see the list of prompts.

There are lots of posting options - blog, Twitter, Flickr, Instagram, just be sure to use the #augustbreak2014 hashtag!

#augustbreak2014 | 11 handwriting

I don't write things down much these days - most of my notes are on my computer or in my iPhone. The exceptions are my ever-present notebooks that go with me everywhere and keep snippets of everything from grocery lists to story outlines to fun quotes to research ideas. I also keep an editorial calendar - in pencil - in an effort to keep me focused and on track, except I keep misplacing it!

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Susannah Conway is again hosting this community project - simply take a photograph every day for the whole month of August. Live inside each moment and pay attention to what is around you.

<<< Click on the button and to go to her page and see the list of prompts.

There are lots of posting options - blog, Twitter, Flickr, Instagram, just be sure to use the #augustbreak2014 hashtag!

hello monday | 132

my morning ritual.

hello volleyball camp. driving boys to the pakmen advantage camp this week. they're going to have a blast - and learn a lot.

hello routine. maybe this week i can manage to get to things i've missed the last few weeks: yoga, meditation, pilates, writing workshop, baseball ...

hello artwork. now that the house is all painted it's time to place art. i don't have a lot, but what i have i love and can't wait to see it all displayed again!

hello kitchen table. now that it's been bug out of storage, cleaned and de-glittered, our old kitchen table - which then became our craft table - is now in our new kitchen as our new kitchen table!

hello acorns. i no longer jump out of my skin in the morning while enjoying coffee and listen to them drop on the back deck. they sound like gunshots each time they land!

hello #augustbreak2014. i've enjoyed this photography project.

hello oprah & deepak. expanding your happiness 21-day meditation starts today. this will be good preparation for the upcoming changes around here.

hello calendar. we're starting to get information from schools - move-in dates, field trip dates, tryout dates. it's time to get it all recorded so we don't miss anything and have a brilliant start to the year ahead!

hello molds. just one step closer to chloé getting her braces off. she is one excited girl this week.

hello home list. now that we're almost all moved in, it's time to walk through the house - with all of the kids - and put together the big list of all things that are needed to make this home 100% functional. it won't get done right away, but at least we'll have a starting point.

hello monday. you are my most favourite day of the week. i love that you provide me with 52 fresh starts every year.

 

what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments.

#augustbreak2014 | 10 drink

This is a photo of my single cup of coffee I have each morning. When considering which "drink" to feature, I chose this only because of the ritual required to enjoy it. Any other drink - water, wine, Perrier - takes no time to prepare, my morning coffee takes a minimum of 5 minutes.

• Put filter with 1/3 cup of coffee in basket
• Fill reservoir with water to the 8-cup mark
• Push the button
• Wait
• Ding!
• Pour coffee in mug, leaving enough room for half and half
• Add half and half
• Scoop scant teaspoon of demerara sugar
• Stir
• Sip
• Sigh

No other liquid requires - or inspires - the same effort. I even have counter space dedicated to this morning ritual. It's worth it!

(I suppose I could put on the automatic timer, but then I'd miss out on the fun.)

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Susannah Conway is again hosting this community project - simply take a photograph every day for the whole month of August. Live inside each moment and pay attention to what is around you.

<<< Click on the button and to go to her page and see the list of prompts.

There are lots of posting options - blog, Twitter, Flickr, Instagram, just be sure to use the #augustbreak2014 hashtag!

#augustbreak2014 | 09 in my bag

My bag is full! Full disclosure: I just cleaned it out upon our return from holiday so this is much tidier than I expected it to be when I dumped it out this morning for the assignment.

CONTENTS:

• Magazines: Sprituality & Health, Oprah, Real Simple
• MacBook Air 11" + soft case
• Canon G12 Camera
• Kindle
• Meds: Synthroid, Advair, Ventolin
• Glass cleaner
• Candies from Yame Sushi
• Glasses: Sun, Driving and Reading (I can't wear bifocals)
• Keys
• Charger and chord
• Bobbi Brown Art Pencil
• Change (clearly American as we don't have pennies in Canada anymore!)
• Wallet
• iPhone
• Aleve
• Notebook
• Staedler Pencils (2)
• Pentel RSVP Pen

You can tell by the contents that I spend much of my time waiting (for kids) which requires much entertainment! I like to keep it diverse :)

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Susannah Conway is again hosting this community project - simply take a photograph every day for the whole month of August. Live inside each moment and pay attention to what is around you.

<<< Click on the button and to go to her page and see the list of prompts.

There are lots of posting options - blog, Twitter, Flickr, Instagram, just be sure to use the #augustbreak2014 hashtag!

#augustbreak2014 | 08 selfie

You will not often see evidence of me voluntarily taking a photo of myself. I am making an effort to get out from behind the camera more this summer and appreciate the nudge this assignment provided today! One of my favourite places has become the back deck off my kitchen. I enjoy being up in the leaves, especially in the morning with my first (and last) cup of coffee for the day. Wonderful!

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Susannah Conway is again hosting this community project - simply take a photograph every day for the whole month of August. Live inside each moment and pay attention to what is around you.

<<< Click on the button and to go to her page and see the list of prompts.

There are lots of posting options - blog, Twitter, Flickr, Instagram, just be sure to use the #augustbreak2014 hashtag!

#augustbreak2014 | 07 today is ...

... going to be spent enjoying the new paint on all of the walls. Now I can get more "moved in" by organizing my artwork and maybe hang a few pieces. The house looks spectacular and Tony and his guys from FelCon Painting did an amazing job! We may even get over to the storage locker and get the kitchen table and curtains. Botton line? Today is ... going to be productive.

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Susannah Conway is again hosting this community project - simply take a photograph every day for the whole month of August. Live inside each moment and pay attention to what is around you.

<<< Click on the button and to go to her page and see the list of prompts.

There are lots of posting options - blog, Twitter, Flickr, Instagram, just be sure to use the #augustbreak2014 hashtag!

#augustbreak2014 | 06 reflection

I enjoy this exercise of #augustbreak2014 as the prompts are really forcing me to look beyond what is easiest for me. "Reflection" for me is more something you do in your head when you look back upon an event or consider a conversation. When trying to figure out what to do with this prompt I realized it can also be something else. So, I took the camera in hopes of getting a photo of my kids on the couch watching "Big Brother". This was the best (translation: in focus, sort of) shot :)

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Susannah Conway is again hosting this community project - simply take a photograph every day for the whole month of August. Live inside each moment and pay attention to what is around you.

<<< Click on the button and to go to her page and see the list of prompts.

There are lots of posting options - blog, Twitter, Flickr, Instagram, just be sure to use the #augustbreak2014 hashtag!

#augustbreak2014 | 05 three

What a big change to have a holiday with three when I'm so used to being away with four. I suppose this is part of the deal and I'm going to have to get used to my nest getting emptier as the years pass!

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Susannah Conway is again hosting this community project - simply take a photograph every day for the whole month of August. Live inside each moment and pay attention to what is around you.

<<< Click on the button and to go to her page and see the list of prompts.

There are lots of posting options - blog, Twitter, Flickr, Instagram, just be sure to use the #augustbreak2014 hashtag!

 

4 Simple Goals | 08-14

#augustbreak2014 | 04 orange

 

My favourite colour is orange. It was when I was a kid and it has come full circle and it is the one I turn to more and more often - purple, too. It makes me happy that it is the colour of creativity :)

Effects of Orange

Enthusiasm: Orange is optimistic and extroverted - the color of the uninhibited.

Rejuvenation: Orange helps to restore balance to our physical energies.

Stimulation: Orange is not as passionate or as excitable as red, but it is stimulating, particularly to the appetite - the worst color to have in the kitchen if you want to lose weight.

Courage: Orange helps us to take account of our lives, to face the consequences, to take action and make appropriate changes, and then to move onward and upward.

Vitality: Orange has a more balanced energy than red, not as passionate and aggressive, but full of vitality.

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Susannah Conway is again hosting this community project - simply take a photograph every day for the whole month of August. Live inside each moment and pay attention to what is around you.

<<< Click on the button and to go to her page and see the list of prompts.

There are lots of posting options - blog, Twitter, Flickr, Instagram, just be sure to use the #augustbreak2014 hashtag!

hello monday | 131

 

Not my favourite flower, but certainly prolific this time of year. A sign of summer!

hello "big brother". originally discovered years ago during our summer holiday and still enjoyed. lots of life and social lessons to be had!

hello pong. the olders are teaching the youngers the finer points of this drinking game - with water and ginger ale. i'm not much of a fan of pop, but i suppose it's better than what they'll be drinking at university! i'm convincing myself it's a necessary skill. i can't complain about all the laughter :D

hello laugh. i love that all of my kids have a great genuine laugh. well, except when cole puts on his high pitched woody woodpecker cackle! eek.

hello rain. it must be my maritime blood, i love the rain.

hello break. i realized with some surprise that we are half-way through our summer holiday. and, if chloé is able to attend her prep school, we're actually well past mid-way. my mind wanders wondering about the year ahead.

hello notes. i have been receiving a number of lovely notes - completely out of the blue. they have been lovely! i encourage the universe to keep sending them. please.

hello deadline. i'm facing a deadline for an assignment. good thing i'm better under pressure. it'll be interesting as it's also while i'm on the road :)

hello old movies. just watched "the great gatsby" - from 1974. so haunting, so very good.

hello project life. wow. i've managed to organize 30+ weeks of photos and made digital pages of 14 weeks! almost halfway through. it has been my holiday project.

hello monday. you are my most favourite day of the week. i love that you provide me with 52 fresh starts every year.

 

what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments.

#augustbreak2014 | 03 window

 

How I enjoy window boxes overflowing with all manner of plantings! One of the best parts of the beach house is the garden - in the ground and under the windows.

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Susannah Conway is again hosting this community project - simply take a photograph every day for the whole month of August. Live inside each moment and pay attention to what is around you.

<<< Click on the button and to go to her page and see the list of prompts.

There are lots of posting options - blog, Twitter, Flickr, Instagram, just be sure to use the #augustbreak2014 hashtag!

#augustbreak2014 | 02 pattern

The master bedroom is so very tranquil. A big king size bed with a super soft mattress, plush pillows and down-filled douvet. It is as close to sleeping on a cloud as you can imagine. The big white headboard has recently been replaced with a subtle taupe pattern. A quiet reminder that everything changes.

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Susannah Conway is again hosting this community project - simply take a photograph every day for the whole month of August. Live inside each moment and pay attention to what is around you.

<<< Click on the button and to go to her page and see the list of prompts.

There are lots of posting options - blog, Twitter, Flickr, Instagram, just be sure to use the #augustbreak2014 hashtag!

#augustbreak2014 | 01 lunch

Captain Parker's is the very best clam chowder I've ever had - ever. I am so very happy when I'm in Cape Cod and have a chance to enjoy a bowl for lunch. I'm even happier now that I can find it for sale in one of the local shops rather than getting stuck on Route 28 with all the tourists. Though, it was always worth every minute of the 2-hour round trip, that's how good it is!

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Susannah Conway is again hosting this community project - simply take a photograph every day for the whole month of August. Live inside each moment and pay attention to what is around you.

<<< Click on the button and to go to her page and see the list of prompts.

There are lots of posting options - blog, Twitter, Flickr, Instagram, just be sure to use the #augustbreak2014 hashtag!

Reflection | July 2014

Cruising down I-90. Kids. Snacks. Tunes. Vacation has begun!

The month started with Mercury moving out of retrograde and a pretty quiet house: Claire went to Windsor for baseball provincials, Cole was in Poland and Caden was in cottage country. Chloé and I were in a nice quiet groove. On the 2nd, Chloé started her Grade 10 math course to prepare for her to attend prep school in Massachusetts - we've learned that they're a bit ahead in math in the States so best be prepared! Lots of work was done around the house: locks were changed and I hired my friend Lynne's son and friend to fix up the gardens at the new house and a painter to fix up the old house and some new windows were installed. Caden arrived home with a broken iPhone which we replaced and then upgraded our family plan. My kids use too much data! I switched our online calendar to Cozi and it's working so well for all of us. A few of the ladies from the Desire Map Book Club met up for a quick catch-up - it's tough to get everyone together in the summer! My creative writing class started and it is a big leap, but a good one. It has dovetailed nicely with The Conscious Booksmith course I'm taking online. Along with Helen, I joined a writers Meet Up group and I don't think it's what I want - it doesn't seem to appeal to Helen either. Maybe we can have a writers group of just the two of us :) I'm looking for a photographer to take photos of me and the kids in the fall - it'll be my 50th birthday gift to myself. I (reluctantly) fired my cleaning service but it had to be done - you never want to come home and feel ripped off regularly. Claire got her full G license, I am so proud of her. My sister came out to the new house with her family to check it out and I'm happy she likes it! Both Chloé and Caden got their new computers for school. Not sure what is going on, but I'm constantly seeing 1:11 or 1:23 or 11:11 on the clock - to the point where I'm noticing it, all the time, every day. Caden went up to OELC just outside Orillia - all 4 of my kids have participated in the Intermediate Athletics leadership program in a row. I'm so proud of their collective accomplishment! I'm making an effort to get in front of the camera instead of always behind. Grampy and Nanna use their fax machine which is frustrating because we do not have a fax - so I signed up for eFax and I'm so glad I did! Another sister - Andrea - came over to check things out and I got another stamp of approval. I'm participating in #100happydays over on twitter and I'm happy to be still going strong! Chloé is still enjoying her softball and is making it to practice and games as often as her studies allow. Living on the cemetery is very quiet, every day except Friday where all you hear is the sound of lawn mowers by 8AM and continue for hours. I watched four seasons of "The Good Wife" in about 10 days. Holy binge watching! Claire and I waited at the walk-in clinic only for her to be told not to worry about the bump on the inside of her throat - she worries anyway :) On the 22nd I celebrated what I thought (last year) was the end of my marriage - at 2 years, 2 months and 2 days of the "official" process. Little did I know then that I'd actually have to wait for two more judges approval and it really being final in December! Live and learn. That's okay, the Veuve Cliquot was just as enjoyable the second time! Cole arrived home from Europe - he frequently got in touch while he was gone via Skype and FaceTime but it was nice to have him home in the flesh! Caden was finally around to play in a baseball game with his team. Chloé wrote her final math exam and we patiently await the results. The wait at the Queenston/Lewiston Bridge was over 90 minutes, but we did manage to make it to Cape Cod in good time. I agreed to not list our townhouse until the one next to us sold, with a deadline which arrived the exact day 157 finally sold. Up went our "for sale" sign at 155. Fingers crossed! It was A LOT of work, but the townhouse looks spectacular with everything cleared out. Many meals were enjoyed at the Oakville Club through the course of the month, every time we go I'm happy we joined. Claire stayed in Oakville to work and play baseball. Cole taught Caden the fine skill of "beer pong" - with ginger ale, though maybe root beer would be more appropriate? My kids, all of them, are finally eating seafood. It is wonderful for them to spend time with their Grampy and Nanna - and for their grandparents to get to know us all better.

In the lives of the kids:

Claire | is learning a ton about the daily grind of an 8:30AM - 5PM job: making lunches, time spent to commute, logistics of making it through traffic after work, exhaustion, time management. I'm hoping this experience will encourage her to stay in school (where she just chose her courses for next year) and learn as much as she can so she has more flexibility in her life. No settling!

Cole | returned from Europe with a ton of experiences and stories to share. He spent time in Warsaw (depressing), Krakow (nice but with an unsettling visit to Auschwitz), Prague (stunning), Dresden (meh), Berlin (where they watched the FIFA final game!), St. Petersburg (rude people but the Hermitage was amazing) and Helsinki (beautiful) while earning his Grade 12 World History credit.

Chloé | got word that she had been accepted to the prep school in Massachusetts but there aren't enough beds! She's on the wait list with her fingers tightly crossed! In the meantime, she prepared for her acceptance by completing her Grade 10 math course: trigonometry, quadratics, linear systems and analytical geometry. Every day for the month she woke at 6:30 and got to class for 8AM. I love her determination and drive!

Caden | enjoyed a couple of weeks up north with a buddy and has definitely been bitten by the Muskoka-cottage-bug. He loves boating and fishing (yay!). He was home for a few days then reluctantly off to OELC and equally reluctant to come home as he met some great people and enjoyed himself. He's growing like mad and eating us out of house and home.

Life in general:

Weather | lots of humidity, then rain, then cool, then hot. I've quite enjoyed the moodiness of it all. Though, I do prefer cooler and less humid moodiness.

News | There is some scary stuff happening in the world. Cole being in Russia at the same time the Malaysian airline was shot down was far too close to home! The events in the Middle East are becoming more tense. As a child of the Cold War I thought I'd be more relaxed about it all, but at this age and stage, with more understanding of what is actually happening I am gripped with dread.

Sports | We started the month watching Wimbledon and celebrating the great accomplishments of the Canadians (the surprise was Vasek Pospisil who WON the Gentlemen's Doubles with his American partner Jack Sock; media darling, Eugenie Bouchard who made it into the finals where Kvitova won; and, Milos Raonic who lost to the great Roger Federer in the Semi-Finals). I enjoyed watching Rory McIlroy win the British Open and watched the Canadian Open while in Cape Cod - weird! 

Discovery | I have really good instincts and I have to listen to (and act on) them more!

Looking forward, goals I want to keep at the forefront include:

Work | Its time to take a deep breath, sit down and figure it all out.

Health | I'm making good, consistent choices. I love nuts and seeds and grains so I've finally bought myself a cookbook so I can enjoy them at home in my own kitchen.

Home | Wow! The Honey-Do Boys are amazing. Talk about curb appeal! I love the way the new house looks like a cottage with all of the river rock and that we gained about 15 feet in the back yard clearing out all of the overgrowth. The perennial gardens shine and now we have a starting place for improvement :) Tony from Fel-Con Painting got all of the rooms painted and done while we were away and we will return to a new, new house - one that feels exactly like home. The old house is on the market and it was a ton of work - with everyone pitching in - to get it all done in time for the listing date!

Fun | I love people watching. The new "hot spot" in town is Harper's Landing. I'm not a fan of the food, but I'm a big fan of the clientele! Sometimes I go with the kids, other times I go with girlfriends. It is always entertaining.

Me | My life is full and I am rarely idle. Every day I am doing something - one project or another is often on the go or in the planning stages. Lately it's been dealing with the pressure of creating something "brilliant" for my creative writing class. The last couple of months had a lot of moving parts and I often felt as though things were running away from me. They weren't but when I look back I realize that within a matter of weeks I bought a house with no planning, no purcolating and no list. Talk about out of my comfort zone! I hit the ground running and have finally taken a chance to slow down. Now that I am idle(ish) I wonder: what's next?

* * * * *

A couple of years ago I consistently wrote up posts summing up the month that had just past. Then life got both complicated and overwhelming, so much so I was just going from day-to-day in complete survival mode. With this new year I'm getting back into the practices of my past that I have missed.

the current | forty

the we're at the beach - edition

dateline: cape cod, massachusetts, u.s.a. edition @ 6:26pm on 26 july 2014
weather outside: a breezy 72F - and mostly cloudy
mood inside: ex. time to exhale! exams are done and all are quiet and exhausted.

drinking another glass of up-graded sauvignon blanc - i'm drinking california swill :)

eating an order from showtime pizza as cole was unable to locate much at the local stop&shop.

embracing the familiarity of all that is our summer destination of choice. as well as a number of changes in the house: new thermostat system, new carpeting (the painful sisal is gone!), new linens and beds.

enjoying the sights and sounds of our annual visit to cape cod.

cooking as little as possible. focusing on mostly breakfast and lunch. out for dinner!

trying a new holiday plan - nothing. everyone is now independent enough to be on their own.

missing claire who is still in oakville - working.

feeling tired after a 10+ hour drive. but no more tired than mr. jet-lagged or ms. math course!

listening to american television. it is exhausting.

watching the watery horizon.

reading nothing at the moment, but a few magazines were packed and the kindle is loaded.

wearing crop pants and t-shirt. feet are bare. love summer!

packing er, unpacking. amazing how little we need to bring on our annual holiday now that the kids are older and pack for themselves.

planning absolutely everything. from the colours to every room in the new house, to the linens for chloé's new room (we hope!) at school, to cole's new room at school, to caden's new volleyball team - or organization. there is no moment not planned, or at least considered.  

stopping the regular apology for so much planning!

wanting to feel 100% rested and refreshed.

needing to drink way more water every day. not coffee. not tea. not wine. water.

wishing to be completely settled into the new house - with my bed!

waiting impatiently for the doctor to call back with my results. seriously thinking of just getting all the test results and taking them to medcan and be done with this nonsense.

thinking i don't want to think at all.

enjoying sleeping in a king size bed.

paying for neglecting myself for so many years. so much work ahead!

encouraging the kids to try as many new things as possible. they're going into boston to fenway. we're going to salem to check it out. i'm game to take them wherever they want to go.

celebrating our time at the seashore. tasty seafood. ocean waves. salty wind. pink and blue hydrangeas. we look forward to this time every year. so wonderful. 

cultivating a pace that i hope is sustainable through the year - or at least the end of summer!

marveling at how much caden has grown - he must be 6' tall!

anticipating some fun behind the camera.

and tada, a photo from my week:

beer, er, ginger ale pong :)

we're on beach time ... so i'm posting more than a few days late :)

hello monday | 130

enjoying our first sunset of the holiday. photo courtesy of chloé.

hello world. things have truly gone mad. this is the perfect week to escape the crazy of russia, the middle east, of all of it and just listen to the waves and soak up the sun.

hello massachusetts. it is a long drive from home to here, but the 90+ minute wait at the queenston/lewiston bridge is well worth it when we arrived 9 hours later.

hello sleep. the ocean air is wonderful for many things. i've shut off my alarm. so far i've managed to sleep a full 12-hours each night since our arrival. wow. i must have been way more tired than i thought! 

hello freedom. the kids are now of an age to go wherever they want, whenever they want. i can drop them off at the mall or golf course or just let them go to the beach.

hello salem. cole has asked to go to salem, so we've got in on the "to do" list.

hello zappos & amazon. love online shopping!

hello constant activity. tennis racquets. volleyballs. rugby balls. frizbees. fishing poles. all manner of outdoor sport. the wind makes things a bit more challenging.

hello camera. my "big" canon 40d has been in it's case for far too long. i'm looking forward to reacquainting myself with it.

hello food experiments. in the last couple of years i've used this time away to discover new recipes. i find much of the food in the states to be over-processed so we buy a lot from the local market and cook from scratch. some years are better than others. let's hope this is a good one!

hello monday. you are my most favourite day of the week. i love that you provide me with 52 fresh starts every year.

 

what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments.

hello monday | 129

hello boys. after weeks away my boys are home!

hello girls. with less absense, the girls too :)

hello final exams. grade 12 world history for cole - written in helsinki! grade 10 math for chloé - written in a far less exotic locale.

hello baseball. miraculously we are here for a baseball game or two! i double-checked the calendar and it's true :)

hello "the good wife". i'm almost caught up - mid-way through season 4! i am so happy i decided against becoming a lawyer.

hello market. if anyone knows of anyone looking for a lovely freehold townhouse within walking distance to everything in town, let them know mine will be available this week!

hello autumn plans. vocal classes? volleyball training? musical theatre productions? so many options. it's time to figure it all out and get registration underway!

hello garbage day. we get garbage pick up only every two weeks. every-other-tuesday and it is limited to two bags! it is always so nice on monday evenings when everything clears out of the garage: recycling, compost, yard waste and those two big black bags of garbage. it feels so good to get rid of it all!

hello early morning yoga. at home. i've purchased some blocks, a bolster and a mat. i'm using my training from celina and spending my mornings with sun salutations - and more.

hello monday. you are my most favourite day of the week. i love that you provide me with 52 fresh starts every year.

 

what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments.

hello monday | 128

hello wait list. so my girl has been accepted at the school she loves. we are collectively holding our breath for someone to drop out so we can get packing and moving!

hello pigs and grunts. the people least likely to change/evolve/learn lessons are often the ones most indignant when you suggest that possibility to them.

hello honey do boys. holy smokes are austin and cody fabulous! my new front garden looks lovely - and loved. they have done a ton of work and WOW the transformation has been remarkable.

hello cozi. i know, i know, google calendar is fabulous - except when it's not. the cozi application is so incredibly easy and is working well to keep our lives on track - with colour coding, reminders and ease.

hello writing group. gulp. going for it. i suppose this means i have to start writing more regularly!

hello world cup final. by chance cole was in berlin for this game. so much fun! memories for a lifetime :)

hello sorting and organizing and purging and sorting again. this really is the best part of moving. expecially moving to a larger place. now to remember to spread - not to fill in!

hello upworthy. always inspirational, but i really do love this message. and even more examples of owning and being okay with who we are can be found here.

hello logistics. europe. orillia. kingston. cape cod. toronto. so many moving parts this week! yes, i did check cozi to make sure i got it all right :)

hello monday. you are my most favourite day of the week. i love that you provide me with 52 fresh starts every year.

 

what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments.

hello (online discovery) monday | 127

I am forever reading and researching online. I get regular notifications from some of my favourite sites. This week seemed to have more than the usual number of good things, so I thought I'd share them. That and the holidays are in full swing so there really is not an awful lot going on around here! The photo? Just about the only spot in my new yard with no weeds! Click on the photo to get to the Honey Do Boys (Austin & Cody) who will be here for a few days putting things in order!

hello reasons why i still "scrapbook". this is a very good article. a reminder why i should make more time to do what i love to do.

hello happy. yes. all of this.

hello happy children playing. joy. universal. connection. love.

hello new startups. i wonder which will be around next year. which will catch fire? which will die away? this is the kind of stuff i find fascinating. what is the next best thing? where is the tipping point?

hello grateful. yes. all of this.

hello hemingway. writing can be tedius. fun. challenging. frustrating. enlightening. and sometimes error filled. this app might just be a quick help!

hello efax. grampy and nanna have a fax machine instead of a computer. i have a computer instead of a fax machine. i discovered a service that will convert computer files to be fax-friendly. brilliant!

hello next year. i will have to remember to celebrate like this next july 3. very funny. and this flag infographic i found fascinating.

hello fitness. one of these apps holds the key. now to figure out which one will work best for me?

hello off switch. after years of hoping, can it be true? do people have an off switch?

hello monday. you are my most favourite day of the week. i love that you provide me with 52 fresh starts every year.

 

what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments.

4 Simple Goals | 07-14

Reflection | June 2014

So many moving parts this month with activities starting while others were winding down, it was overwhelming and my introvert self just wanted to turtle for a while. Maybe next month? We started with the volleyball banquet, it was eye opening - on so many levels. Bloodwork was re-done and 15 vials should yield some answers, I hope! I drove Chloé to Massachusetts to interview with a prep school. Sixteen hours in the truck for two hours of interview/tour should be sufficient proof that we're serious! The first day of exams was on a Saturday and Cole had two! He actually managed to have SEVEN exams in three days - crazy. Claire had her first Whitecaps tournament in Dundas and it was made clear they need to communicate better as a team if they want to be successful. River Oaks diamond is still out of commission so Caden is attending practice in our backyard, Trafalgar Park. So convenient! Chloé and her grade 9 classmates survived ASCENT which consisted of long days filled with group activities in lieu of exams. Caden presented his POL and got rave reviews from his panel. I learned it's easier to deal with a "lost" child when she is not yours. After four months of healing, Cole has a new girlfriend and I'm happy he's happy. Mercury was in retrograde for most of the month and it made it's presence felt! Claire and I have become quite expert at using jumper cables. Every few months the radio stations in my truck get switched around - this time it must have been Cole since the new addition is the XM Country music station. The best part of no school for Chloé is binge watching shows she missed all school year! Netflix is going to get a workout. I ordered and received an EZ Pass in the mail - for our future trips to New York and Mass - no more waiting at toll booths! Painters, flooring repair guys, roofers, plumbers and electricians have been keeping me company through most of the month in one home or the other. Lots of heavy-duty non-sexy home work is happening! I enjoyed a writers workshop at the Oakville Library, Brian is such a great teacher. The boys enjoyed heading into Toronto to watch the Scotland vs Canada rugby match. We all went into Toronto to Mistura Restaurant to celebrate my nephew's recent graduation from high school. Father's Day was spent (back) in Toronto where we celebrated with Grampy and sisters and families. Caden attended the year-end dinner dance - I know he ate, but doubt he danced! He has become quite social, rounding off the time between the last day of school and closing ceremonies with a few parties and get togethers with friends. The move was perfect - completely uneventful! Well, until Caden had FIVE friends over for a slumber party! Over the course of the first few days it was so nice to have a few friends drop by to say "hi" during the chaos of it all. Chloé had a blast at a surprise party for a friend - and she was surprised at some revelations. I started Yoga for Beginners a 4-week course that has proven to be very infomative. Braces: Chloé's can come off and Caden had his lower hardware installed. We're all measured up for our Phantom Screens - and I was able to take advantage of Claire's employee discount :) Closing ceremonies came and went with little notice - next year is a big one. As Jessica's escort, Cole went to the Appleby Prom - what a difference having a son attend rather than a daughter. So a friend could go away with her husband it was "all hands" to care for her aging mother - and I'm pleased to say my kids enjoyed the experience! Chloé went to Kundalini Meditation for me and plans to return - I miss it and can't wait to get all settled to I can return to my routine. Caden represented by attending the beach volleyball bbq - he brought the burgers :) Report cards arrived and all of the kids did well - no suprises, thank goodness. Claire went skydiving! Cole got his bags packed and left for his World History course - in Eastern Europe. He's off to Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Russia and Finland. Caden left for his first visit with friends to cottage country - off to Muskoka for a couple of weeks. Chloé and I found ourselves somewhat deserted when we were the only two left at home! She was able to fill her time with shopping, friends and endless Netflix. On that note, over a weekend I managed to watch "The Blacklist" and I really enjoyed it! The flooring guy was remarkably quick and now Tony the Painter has started "fixing" up the old house to prep for sale - he and his team are so good - now I'm choosing colours for the new place!

In the lives of the kids:

Claire | Claire got herself a job as a summer receptionist. I'm so proud of her and the lessons she's learning: "rush hour" is a new and frustrating concept as is the realization, lunch out every day is not cheap and time management is indeed an art. She's putting tons of mileage on Gandalf - taking care of the house in Kingston and all over for ball tournaments.

Cole | Is happily off with a group of teenagers to take his Grade 12 World History course in Eastern Europe. This is going to be a tremendous experience for him and I appreciate all of the Skype updates! It's a great distraction as he waits to hear whether or not he will get a leadership position at school next year.

Chloé | Completed her ASCENT (group activity evaluations) to get through her brutal Grade 9 year. The whole process of middle school was tough, and I never thought it could get worse. I was wrong. This year topped it all off so I'm glad she had a couple of years to test her resilience muscles. I'm so proud of her for grinding through the drama and mean of it all.

Caden | Started his POL with "The doctors said I wouldn't be here right now" - quite the attention-getter for my drama-free boy. He is off to Muskoka for his first time ever with friends to celebrate surviving middle school :) I look forward to hear what he thinks of the whole cottage experience. He has lots of things going on this summer and I know he's going to have a ton of fun.

There was a collective exhale as the school year came to an end.

Life in general:

Weather | We've had a very slow start to summer. We get these crazy hot and muggy days that seem to come out of nowhere. Most of the time things have been quite pleasant, but I do prefer things on the cool side :) With the unstable temperatures and humidity come some really violent weather - some far away, but much too close for comfort.

News | Sometimes I wonder if it's a good thing to have 24/7/365 access to the news. It's so often violent and inconceivable to me. I didn't mind having no cable for the better part of a week. I get my news via television and I had to wait for Claire to hook it up for me. Even with it hooked up I've been busy watching sports - so I'm completely out of touch, and that's not a bad thing.

Sports | Seasons winding down: basketball has the Spurs beating the Heat and the LA Kings took home the Stanley Cup. FIFA World Cup is creating a stir in Brazil with many upsets - as well as violence in the streets. We watched the French Open and have enjoyed Wimbledon, so far. In less elite play, Claire has been enjoying her baseball season - well, seasons as she's on two teams; Cole has really improved as a volleyball player; Chloé is fun to watch play softball and Caden is really becoming a great hitter (except he's somehow managed to lose his equipment bag!) at baseball and is all arms and legs at volleyball - now to get him on the golf course!

Discovery | I can do just about anything.

Looking forward, goals I want to keep at the forefront include:

Work | Everything is on hold until the move is complete and things have settled enough to focus on other things. Though, I find I come up with ideas at the weirdest times - while folding, while re-arranging furniture, while hooking up electronics - so I have a pad of paper set up in the kitchen (centre of my universe) so I can keep a running list of things that flitter through my mind. Who knows what will come of it! Though, I'm keeping myself "in the game" by taking a creative writing course, first assignment is due today!

Health | I started a Yoga for Beginners course up at Zenbar and am finally starting to "get it". Blood was drawn (again) and I'm tracking my eating (again).

Home | I'm doing all I can, as quickly as I can, to make our new house a home. There is a revolving door of kids coming and going so I'm glad I knew this was going to be a Mama-project from the outset!

Fun | Choosing new paint colours! Window shopping for new furniture! Purging and keeping only things I love, things that are useful or that I know to be beautiful :)

Me | I worked really hard for our volleyball team and organization and ended up being the only manager not thanked by the team coach at the big awards banquet. I have to admit, that really hurt. The team parents and players were great and all very kind and went out of their way to "make up" for the ommission for which I am truly grateful. Lesson learned? I won't be saying "yes" next season!

* * * * *

A couple of years ago I consistently wrote up posts summing up the month that had just past. Then life got both complicated and overwhelming, so much so I was just going from day-to-day in complete survival mode. With this new year I'm getting back into the practices of my past that I have missed.

hello monday | 126

 

hello skype. it was so nice to hear from cole calling-in from poland! i'm looking forward to his next call - from czech republic (prague).

hello typography challenge. i have oodles of fonts with fun swishes and swirls and absolutely no idea how to use/get to them! i'm hoping this tutorial will help.

hello grade 10 math. chloé starts her summer course this week.

hello backyard volleyball. my kids don't often ask for much, but when they all show interest in something i'm happy to get it. in this instance it is an outdoor volleyball court. i expect it will get much use!

hello essential movies. this list is directed at the under-13 set, but i think i may watch a few to get in the spirit of summer.

hello provincials. hoping for good weather and great play in windsor.

hello design trick. given that i'm in the midst of room design and furniture arranging, this trick will definitely come in handy!

hello pro sports. another full week ahead! wimbledon and fifa world cup. so nice to have something live to have in the background of my days!

hello recent television binge. over the regular season we recorded "the blacklist" and it is fabulous! we watched the whole season over the weekend. so good! 

hello monday. you are my most favourite day of the week. i love that you provide me with 52 fresh starts every year.

 

what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments.

hello monday | 125

this is the face of my baby, my introvert, my social animal. what? social animal? yes. i am still suffering from the shock of it all!

hello summer solstice. the longest day of the year was jam-packed with activity. everyone was happy to welcome the new season!

hello packing. cole is off to eastern europe to get his world history credit over the summer. caden is off to muskoka with a buddy. crazy diverse clothing choices. i do hope i manage to keep the suitcases straight!

hello type experiment. i love this idea! i wonder what the final font will be?

hello creative ideas. last week i gained an incredible amount of wall space and shelving. time to fill it up with some projects! on that note ...

hello holstee manifesto. i have a framed poster of this inspirational message currently hanging in an area I can see it regularly. i am seriously considering putting the wall sized decal in the house!

hello giant weed. truly terrifying.

hello space. i believe we've finally claimed this new space as our own. the kids are 75% settled and happy to be in our new home.

hello personal float tent. imagine having a personal float tank in the house. swoon!

hello beginner yoga. i've started a class at zenbar healing studio (love that place!) and kind of hope that it can lead to some weight loss!

hello monday. you are my most favourite day of the week. i love that you provide me with 52 fresh starts every year.

 

what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments.

 

the current | thirty-nine

the we've just moved - again - edition

dateline: oakville, ontario, canada @ 11:18pm on 18 june 2014
weather outside: a clammy 21C - yes, humid!
mood inside: exhausted yet open and optimistic

drinking a glass of very cold sauvignon blanc - out of a red solo cup as the kitchen is still intact at the old house and i am at the one with internet!

eating on the fly. trying to make good choices! the problem is the club makes the best french fries.

embracing change - and the dust that comes with it.

enjoying the first page of this next chapter.

cooking clean and healthy.

trying to juggle schedules: a move, end of school year, work and social lives of four teenagers!

missing a sense of calm and comfort as we go through this transition.

feeling über organized! executing plans according to schedule. well, all but the fridge install! but hey, wasn't i planning on being on the phone with goeman's tomorrow? ;)

listening to the silence of our new neighbourhood. as cole says, "it's dead quiet" - witty that boy of mine :)

watching boxes as they sit waiting to be unpacked in the living room.

reading lists. many, many lists in an effort to execute many projects as flawlessly as possible!

wearing crop pants, t-shirt and fit flops (my summer uniform).

packing not just a house! with the guidance of an extensive packing list, we are also packing for cole's trip to eastern europe and caden's visit to muskoka. so exciting!

planning the best way to celebrate the end of this latest adventure. champagne? nah. i'm leaning toward a week of sleeping and doing absolutely nothing.

stopping the crazy running around to be more mindful of what i eat, how i move, what i think, how i speak.

wanting to hear from the u.s. prep school one way or the other so we can make a plan for september!

needing to get the painter in to make this place feel more like home. yes, that means a rusty nail bedroom for me and a spiced rum office. considering an autumn leaf (now called spanish red) kitchen/family room.

wishing for the time to focus on the conscious booksmith and start (and hope to complete) the assignment for my intensive creative writing class.

waiting impatientlyfor all of the final marks to come in!

thinking it's time to get on paper - or in the computer - stories and tender whisps of ideas swirling in my head.

enjoying the journey. all of it.

paying attention to the calendar and setting up appointments and making plans for fall and beyond.

encouraging the kids, by all but example, to pace themselves and enjoy their summer. i'm also encouraging them to take in as much as possible. oh, the contradictions in growing up!

celebrating my surviving seven consecutive years of middle school. some years were better than others. now just four more years of high school awaits! pray for me.

cultivating a daily practice that is consistent and do-able.

marveling at how wonderful my kids are and how they (even sometimes reluctantly) embrace change.

anticipating a hot summer filled with fun, travel, photos, music, stories and adventure.

and tada, a photo from my week:

hello monday | 124

beauty is everywhere.
in front of what appears to be a ready-to-be-condemned building, each spring a dozen or so stunning poppies grow for a few weeks. i wanted to make sure to capture some photos this year. lovely.

hello perspective. i enjoy perspectives of people who have a different life experience than me. a navy seal? he definitely falls into that category! his ten life lessons are really smart.

hello vessyl. how i love this idea! imagine knowing exactly what is in your cup.

hello clean routine. a lot of "routines" don't fit my life but i did find this one. through the move i won't use it right away - too much chaos with moving this week - but i've got it downloaded and plan to start once we're all settled into our new digs.

hello prom. though cole is not graduating, he is escorting one of his friends. i think they're going to have a blast!

hello happy phrases. i'm doing my best to be more mindful of how i speak and think throughout my days. this article was encouraging.

hello veggies. i'm doing my very best to offer more diverse choices at meal time - beyond roasted everything (which i love). i found these vegetarian offerings that i think my kids will actually eat - me too! combined with this chart we will be eating plenty of veg all summer and winter.

hello professionals. happy to have a good team: plummer, electrician, painter, movers and security will join the cable guy, locksmith and gas man to get us all up and running!

hello orthodontist. hoping for good news and chloé will get her braces off soon.

hello last day. caden has his middle school dinner & dance. chloé has her last day of ascent. cole has his final exam. i imagine there will be lots of sleeping tomorrow! and then the season of late nights at movies, in pools at the club, off to day and overnight camps, fast-paced summer courses and social outings with friends begins.

hello monday. you are my most favourite day of the week. i love that you provide me with 52 fresh starts every year.

 

what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments.

 

list | 09 places

52 LISTS | Week Nine | list the places you want to go

Graduations of all of my children from university - or learning institution of their choice . pottery classes to experiment with making the art that lives in my head . to Newfoundland - with my camera - to watch icebergs float by and eat fresh seafood and listen to the lilt of the Newfie voices enthralled in storytelling . to restaurants - new and old - to review for fun . for a walk, every day, at least 10,000 steps . on a photo-safari to South Africa . on quick weekend get-aways with friends . back to Scotland to visit castles, golf courses and fields of purple and yellow . the delivery room for the birth of all my grandchildren . to listen to Brené Brown and Malcolm Gladwell and Seth Godin and Pema Chödrön and Dalai Lama and Sir Ken Robinson and Daniel Pink and Tony Robbins and Oprah and Ken Follett and Dan Gilbert and Susan Cain and Whoopie Goldberg speak, live . to walk through the Distillery District, with my camera - and to Queen's Quay, the Beaches, Union Station and Kensington Market and the BSS art room and other highlights in Toronto . to NYC for Broadway shows and great food . to reformer Pilates class at least 3x each week . regularly, to a patio for lunch to people-watch through the summer . to Canyon Ranch in Tucson with my sister every Spring . to my back deck to meditate every morning . to a publishing house, completed manuscript in hand . to a creative retreat to learn from others . walk through our new house for a final inspection . back to the Cloister's, this time with kids . to the Greenbriar, too . to the spa for a regular mani/pedi . through the car wash as often as possible . back to Cape Cod, every summer, forever . a happy place in my head and heart, every day .

What about you? What are the places you want to go?

And this week, there is a CHALLENGE: this week I will go ...

for a photo-walk through the campus of Appleby College

* * * * *

Do you want to join in? Head over to Moorea Seal and check out the 52 Lists.

* * * * *

The 2014 collection:

1 of 52 | 2 of 52 | 3 of 52 | 4 of 52 | 5 of 52 | 6 of 52 | 7 of 52 | 8 of 52 | 9 of 52 | 10 of 52 | 11 of 52 | 12 of 52 | 13 of 52 | 14 of 52 | 15 of 52 | 16 of 52 | 17 of 52 | 18 of 52 | 19 of 52 | 20 of 52 | 21 of 52 | 22 of 52 | 23 of 52 | 24 of 52 | 25 of 52 | 26 of 52 | 37 of 52 | 38 of 52 | 39 of 52 | 40 of 52 | 41 of 52 | 42 of 52 | 43 of 52 | 44 of 52 | 45 of 52 | 46 of 52 | 47 of 52 | 48 of 52 | 49 of 52 | 50 of 52 | 51 of 52 | 52 of 52

mindful | word elimination

Words are powerful things.

I am becoming more mindful of how my words effect me and those around me. Surrounded each day by four teenagers, I often have to pause and take my time to construct, carefully, exactly what I say. I love words. All words. Or so I thought.

Over the past few months, I have realized there are a handful of words that bring with them unkind,  negative or judgmental connotations. With their simple elimination have added vastly to constructive conversation in my home.

Those words include:

WHATEVER is so passive-aggressive it makes my teeth grit and brain explode - simultaneously! The word combined with the inevitable shrug or stomp or turn in the other direction is a teenage (or immature adult) tactic that had to stop around here.

CAN'T is the one word that makes me sad. The whole idea that my kids think they can't do something makes my heart sick. I have told my kids for years the Henry Ford quote, "if you think you can or you think you can't, you're right." Nothing frustrates me more than my children having an immediate response to an idea or project with "I can't". They are so capable, it annoys me when they limit themselves. If there is one word banned from my home it is this one.

SHOULD implies that something needs to be fixed and there is some level of judgment involved on behalf of the speaker (authority) to someone who is deficient in some way. Nothing like putting your audience on the defensive by evoking feelings of guilt and shame!

JUST is not a word I like to use - it is so limiting. Sometimes I use it depending on my audience, though I find it negative. Ever since I heard it in terms of "I'm just a mom" the word has rankled me.

ACTUALLY might be annoying more in the tone used when the word is said than the word itself. When a sentence starts with "actually" I know the words that follow with will be tinged with condescension.

BUT because (usually) every word after it is the truth. I find that the use of "but" is a way of saying uncomfortable or mean things with a disclaimer. Speak plainly with your intent and you never have to use "but" ever again.

ALWAYS absolutes are trouble - as is the opposite NEVER. I ask that we try to speak in a basis of truth and not exaggeration, which both words represent. Tough with this crowd when adolescence is all about extremes!

Words that need to be spoken only after a mindful pause are YES and NO. Once you have fully considered the implications of the words then say them.

I do my best to encourage my children by setting an example*. Each time I hear a "whatever", "can't", "should", "just", "actually", "but", "always" and "never" out of my mouth, I bite my tongue and then apologise. Behaviour modification at it's finest! I figure, if I expect my kids to behave one way I'd better hold myself to the same standard!

I have been toying with the idea of a Swear Jar to hold monetary penalties for the use of each word. Ironically, I have no problem with the use of the F-bomb or S-word, if used in proper context.

* Often this method is too subtle for my teenaged lot, but at least it strengthens my argument should it come to it.

Morning | 30-minute Ritual

Now that the weather is improving and morning is more welcome, I've realized I want to savour the start of my day rather than continue with the frantic jump out of bed at the sound of the alarm slapping my clock, setting up the coffee maker (I had not yet mastered the automatic setting), jockeying of cars to take kids to school, a quick shower and then drive to the school and back with green juice in hand.

Just when I was forming my desire, I realized I wasn't the only one as I read this article which confirmed exactly what I suspected: it is time to slow down.

For the last few weeks, I've set the alarm a little earlier: 6:30AM vs 6:45AM to build in a 15 minute cushion before our daily 7:30AM departure for drop off at school. I have now mastered the automatic brew setting on the coffee maker so when I enter the kitchen I simply have to pour a cup.

I anchor my new peace and calm ritual with:

1. My first, and only, cup of coffee for the day,
2. I open a single serve greek yogurt and add 10 almonds,
3. doors at the front and back are opened and I enjoy the weather that greets me, relieved that the temperatures are now consistently balmy,
4. enjoying the silence, I spend about 5 minutes breathing and becoming centred, often outside on the back deck,
5. my writing computer - a little 11" MacBook Air - is opened and I spend the time, before hollering up to wake children at 7AM, writing out my morning pages.

Once the kids come downstairs in various stages of dress, maybe eat something (none are enthusiastic breakfast eaters), put their bags together with whatever is needed for their school day, the chaos is in full swing. The deal is that the first one downstairs, fully dressed and organized gets "shotgun". While they're getting organized, I run down to the garage and move up Claire's car and park it on the street. I walk in the front door, grab a green drink out of the fridge, and follow the kids to the basement and out to the garage and we leave as close to 7:30AM as possible.

What I no longer do is:

1. Resent the alarm clock,
2. frantically do anything,
3. skip breakfast,
4. immediately shuffle the cars,
5. take a quick shower before leaving for drop off, I now shower upon my return.

This new ritual really resonates with me and my well-being. I am far more mindful of myself and what I need to do during the day, week, month. I find that by being far more centred I am more energized through the day. I'm not sure how it will change now that we're in exams and school will be finished for the year in little more than a week.

I am happy I've established a practice of peace and calm that is good for me, reinforcing my need a kind and positive start to my days.

Of course, this will all be changed up in a few days when we enter our summer holidays. I am hoping to continue to wake earlier than the kids and keep a slower pace, a more gentle entry to my days. I find over summer I lose my sense of routine and it affects me in a negative way as I tend to spin when I have no anchor for my thoughts and activity. I hope this will provide that daily ritual that keeps me grounded!k

hello monday | 123

after a long drive she was ready and eager for her early morning interview!

hello exams. cole has seven exams in three days. crazy. he's been studying like mad. two down over the weekend.

hello presentation of learning. in lieu of exams, the middle school will be doing some kind of new testing of ability. who knows! the process changes every single year. at least it's only two days and then caden is d.o.n.e.

hello ascent. another non-exam form of testing which teams up the kids in upper school. i suppose all i can do is cross my fingers that chloé gets into a good group for each subject!

hello lots of studying around here. no matter what form the testing takes there will be lots of hitting the books around here this week. my job? simple: do my very best to keep everyone in a low-anxiety and belly-full condition. 

hello conscious booksmith. so looking forward to starting this course. today!

hello even more writing. i have signed up for another workshop over at the library on the weekend.

hello proofreading. since i'm doing so much writing it's a good idea to keep in mind some of these rules before publishing - self or otherwise!

hello buddhist practice. though some days i slip they are becoming fewer and fewer as i implement all twenty of these practices into my daily life. i am mindful of all of my choices and that is more than half the challenge!

hello freshly minted 15-year-old. chloé has had a lot to navigate the past couple of years and I'm so very relieved and happy with her pluck and resilience!

hello monday. you are my most favourite day of the week. i love that you provide me with 52 fresh starts every year.

 

what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments.

anticipation | hello summer 2014

It was the last day of school around here yesterday - and Chloé and I are on our road trip! After a very long winter and extended spring, summer feels like it is almost here. We just have exams, ASCENT and POL's (presentation of learning) academic evaluations to complete and then after Closing Ceremonies summer will start!

The other day I saw that someone had visited my Summer Manifesto post from last year and I realized time was ticking and I wanted to do it again this year! I do like the idea of setting forth an intention. A manifesto. For this summer 2014, this is the plan:

HELLO SUMMER

1. Finish unpacking and settling into the new digs - that includes purchasing and arranging everything by the end of summer. 100%
   
2. Attend Chloé's softball games and Caden's baseball games.
3. Meet friends for swimming and fun at the Oakville Club.
4. Watch two or three television series from start to finish: Friday Night Lights, The Blacklist and The Good Wife are at the top of my list!
   
5. Have all of my blood tests done and follow up - again. Maybe get some answers this time around? Fingers crossed!
6. Sign in and check on Cole's trip to Eastern Europe. A trip of a lifetime - and hard work, after all, he's going to get his grade 12 World History credit while he's there! How awesome is that?
7. Dust off my camera and retrain my eye.
8. Enjoy our annual holiday in Cape Cod.
9. Try to keep up with Claire's forever changing baseball and social schedule.
10. With no excuses, plan to take long walks or ride my bike every day - rain or shine or oppressive humidex.
11. Take day trips to Stratford and Niagara Falls.
12. Enjoy stories of Chloé's roughing-it up in Temagami for two weeks!
13. Write morning pages. Every. Single. Day.
14. Share lazy lunches and laughter with friends at JACs or Stoney's or Jonathan's.
15. Take Caden up to leadership camp, and volleyball camp, too.
    
16. Soak up as much vitamin D as possible.
17. Get out to the driving range a few times.
18. Buy Chloé a whole new non-uniform wardrobe to wear at her new school.
    
19. Settle Cole into his dorm room for his last year of high school.
20. Celebrate my 50th birthday!

Our days will be full. I look forward to many teenagers walking in and out of my house on a regular basis through the twelve structure-less weeks ahead. I anticipate much laundry with all of the packing and unpacking that is going to happen - I'm so happy to have a full-on full-sized laundry room again. Along with late nights at the ballpark and concerts, I hope for many lazy mornings with a lot of sleeping in. Me? I will enjoy my mornings with a cup of coffee and quiet time to journal and reflect, followed by a nice long walk or bike ride around the new neighbourhood.

In essence, I will spend my summer grateful and full of appreciation that I am able to live my life on my own terms and spend even a portion of it with my wonderful children!

How about you? Big plans? Small plans? Big changes? No changes? How do you manage your summer?

4 Simple Goals | 06-14

hello monday | 122

the weather has improved so much it's patio weather!

hello blog. i've been absent for a couple of reasons: troubles with typepad and trouble finding the time. i miss it and plan on making it a priority once things settle a bit. for now it'll be more "hello monday" posts.

hello june. hard to believe half of 2014 has been lived! wow. staying active every day certainly has time pass quickly!

hello last week of school. blink.

hello exam review days. time to stock the fridge, change all social media passwords and remember to count to 10 since everyone will be very stressed!

hello bare. i really enjoy the idea of this project. so brave. so bare.

hello timehop. i like apps though sometimes i am not good at remembering which ones i have! this one will give me a glimpse at what happened on the day the year before. good to know how far i've come to keep on track where i'm going!

hello massachusetts. it'll be a long drive down and back, but hopefully we get what we're looking for when we get there.

hello baseball tournament. i'm hoping the weather holds out so we can all attend the tournament over the weekend.

hello early father's day. coordinating schedules can be tough, and over the years we've realized (as a huge extended family) exact dates are less important than getting our families together. so we've created our own day to celebrate. yay!

hello monday. you are my most favourite day of the week. i love that you provide me with 52 fresh starts every year.

 

what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments.

Reflection | May 2014

Every year for the last decade, May is crazytime: tons of activity for everyone in the family! I'm pretty sure at the beginning of the month I took complete leave of my senses: for many reasons we're now in search of a Havanese puppy. I finished up B-School - and by that I mean barely started, but the course is over! Transcripts have been secured, SSAT test taken and results submitted and essays written - we are prepared and well-armed for new education adventures. I am so incredibly grateful for old friends who have become new friends in a new context. A new house? Well, when my dad called after seeing a listing in the Globe & Mail Claire and I went to take a look - we did not buy that one. With a friend, I headed into Toronto for a MedCan forum and ended up on the QEW for 2+ hours then unable to make it into the city due to a marathon. Sometimes the universe speaks. Claire has mastered her VW manual transmission and is buzzing around town (I have to admit I liked it when she didn't enjoy it so I got to drive it!). Allergies! The Milton Music Festival was missed due to allergies and no one had their voice :( Claire tried out, and made, the Whitecaps (select) baseball team. Cole and Caden are playing beach volleyball at Coronation Park and having a blast! My sisters and I enjoyed our Dad & Daughter lunch in Toronto - always lots to learn. After many dresses tried and rejected, shoes tried and rejected, I was ready to head to the Appleby Gala. My purpose? Have fun and get a tent for Cole's graduation in 2015. With thanks to my host, Lisa, mission accomplished. And more! Softball season started for Chloé and she's looking forward to the season ahead. I'm enjoying the #1 Morning Glory and #3 Get Up and Go juices from Tree of Life. Mother's Day was celebrated in Toronto and with the kids getting so big it was the first time the big house felt small! I gave my camera - and photography duties - to my niece for the occasion. Windows need replacing - my home is officially the money pit. Cole had Prefect interviews, he'd like to be considered for Arts, Community, Upper School and Head. Fingers crossed! Oh the RAIN! Buckets-full rendering the beach volleyball courts and ball diamonds unusable. My two courses: writing memoir and art therapy have been fabulous, I'll be sad when they end. By mid-month, the side mirror on my truck was replaced. Out with girlfriends for lunches and dinners through the month is always a pleasure. Caden can really hit the ball! After a tornado delay, Chloé went on the music trip to Cleveland and enjoyed the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and other spots. A quick but wonderful trip that included Cedar Point! Claire was off with Myles to Chatham for the long weekend. My friend Meg makes wicked Marguaritas! Back in to Toronto to see The Lion King which was a spectacle - beautiful costumes and music, too bad the leads couldn't sing - or act :( The day improved with a BBQ at my sister Beth's place with everyone. Canada's Wonderland is open and Caden went on the Leviothin FOUR times. Crazy! LOTS of time spent in Toronto this month. Goodbye townhouse, hello house! A now-busy summer lies ahead. Rehearsal crunch-time for The Little Mermaid - though rugby games are interfering with preparations. Blyth orientation at The Old Mill went well and history will come alive for Cole this summer, for sure. Now to organize the paperwork for his Russian visa! Caden and his rugby team made it into the finals at TCS - yet another trip to Port Hope :) Sadly they did not win. Sign, sign, sign. Notarize, notarize, notarize. I'm delighted to finally find a local place to notarize documents for a reasonable price and no appointment hassle! Hello Tuesday evening crazy with two baseball practices, one beach volleyball game and a softball game all happening simultaneously! We got early news that Caden is in Powell's House next year - with his big brother and a few of his good friends. I cannot wrap my brain around Caden going INTO HIGH SCHOOL in September! We had a fun, spontaneous, dinner out at the OC followed with the kids going to the movies and a sleepover. With much stubborn effort Claire has learned that her baseball schedule and part time work will simply not coexist this summer. Caden turned 14 and we have entered that awkward time of year when I have two children the same age for three weeks as we wait for Chloé to turn 15 in mid-June. We went as a family to watch Caden as King Triton in the Middle School production of The Little Mermaid and it was fabulous - we were the loudest four audience members in Willis Hall :) With a quick turn-around he was off to Ottawa on the Middle School trip. I love my Suburban, but it's a beast: by the end of the month was regular maintenace: an oil change; and irregular maintenance: new brakes. A month into the season I was able to go and watch Claire's house league team play. Relay for Life had Cole and Chloé busy at school for a full day of luminary lighting, preparing and walking - no studying or exam prep :) One of the families hosted the rugby year-end party and it was so much fun getting to know the parents and the boys better. The big de-clutter is well underway. So happy we've made an effort to keep things flowing in and out so the project is not overwhelming.

In the lives of the kids:

Claire | Claire learned that it is not easy to find a part time job that would accomodate her baseball and tournament schedule. As an alternative, she is engaging her entrepreneurial spirit and is taking care of kids - chauffeuring, supervising, organizing - for friends over the summer, and had a few bumps during her first job, but all ended well. For $20 an hour she will drive your kid wherever they need to go, keep them entertained and well supervised! She has also learned that maintaining a home away from home - and collecting everyone's share of the rent - is not glamourous or fun or easy.

Cole | Rugby was ever-present this month. Cole got a gash over his brow at a tournament in Quebec that kept opening but is now finally on the mend - because rugby is (finally) over! The last game they played was versus the indominable St. Mike's team. There was little expectation by our boys that they would win. Out in the mud they did just that. Probably the best rugby game I've ever witnessed. So good!

Chloé | This was a big month for my girl. Once she decided (and it was overwhelmingly confirmed) it was time for her to head to a different school we did everything we could to research the schools to determine the best fit; wrote endless essays; completed the SSAT in St Catharine's; completed forms and submitted paperwork - all of this done and complete in two weeks. Now the waiting begins. The beauty of the wait? She's been distracted with summatives and course study for ASCENT and the fun of the Arts trip to  Cleveland - high stress, but lots of fun.

Caden | Caden is my most laid-back lovely child who has entered the throes of adolescence with a bang. Touchy, touchy, touchy. We've all been put on notice :) He did manage to get his New Zealand project done - he embraced a minimalist approach - as well as some kind of geometric-shape-mouse. My job? Go to Michael's and Staples for supplies. I refuse to do any more than that. Within hours of his (fabulous) performance as King Triton in the Middle School Musical production of The Little Mermaid, Caden was off with his schoolmates for the annual trip to Ottawa. And, my baby is growing up. Not only did he turn 14, but he has himself a girlfriend. Oh my!

A full month was had by all.

Life in general:

Weather | I don't remember a slower entrance of spring with the exception of the year we moved to Oakville in 1997. Not one tulip or daffodil spotted until mid-to-late in the month. It has been slow to see, but the kids have been chewing Reactine since April. So . much . rain . With it has come a very slow start to ball season! By the end of the month came soaring heat and humidity, no one wanted to complain, but the house was shut tight and the air put on.

News | Even in rehab Rob Ford manages to be in the news. The kidnapping of 200+ girls in Nigeria captured international attention. Prince Charles on part-of-Canada tour with wife Camilla - visits Manitoba, Nova Scotia and PEI. The Ontario provincial election is well underway. There seem to be a general feeling of international unrest: Ukraine, China, Thailand - tense months ahead. Looks like a Conservative MP is pushing for the Turks & Caicos to become our 11th province. #yesallwomen vs #notallmen represents a huge disconnect of entitlement in our patriarchal society - and deserves serious consideration. The U.S. seriously has to reconsider it's disgraceful gun and incarceration situation and do something about it. We lost a great woman with the passing of Maya Angelou (1928-2014).

Sports | Watching hockey and cheering the HABS through the Stanley Cup playoffs. Okay, the kids have been cheering and I've been in the room. And, the Blue Jays are off to a good start - maintaining the success throughout the season will be, as always, the challenge. The French Open is my preferred mid-day television fare.

Discovery | I am not a "cleanse" person, expecially in this cold climate, BUT I have discovered some green juices to supplement my daily diet. I've been supporting a local business: Tree of Life. So good!

Looking forward, goals I want to keep at the forefront include:

Work | Traditionally my work has been 100% my kids with the occasional dabble in photography and writing. This month was exactly that and amped up to the point of craziness! Puppy, house, identities, school ... I long for the simple days when all I had to do was wonder about what to make for dinner. Much will be put on the back burner until September!

Health | With better weather came a fully charged FitBit and many steps each day. My health is forever a work in progress and always at the forefront of my thoughts and choices. It's exhausting (read: discouraging) when there are no noticeable results - at least, on the outside.

Home | In my world nothing stays static for long. Again, things are changing. Purge, purge, purge. Pack, pack, pack. Paint, paint, paint. Love it! Loathe it!

Fun | I've started #100happydays challenge. Here at Day 10, I'm 1/10th done and 100% happier than when I took up the challenge :D A pretty good ROI, I'd say!

Me | Traditionally May is the start of the season I call "exhaustion". This year the month brought so much more than I could have ever planned or expected. I am being mindful that I have to pace myself and though I have not given up: my writing class, my art therapy class, lunch/dinner/drinks with girlfriends, meditation, reformer Pilates x2 a week, I realize there may be a time something "has to give". I just know that with lots going on and tons to look forward to attending and doing, I will never lose sight of myself and what I need for me, again. I am so grateful for this journey.

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A couple of years ago I consistently wrote up posts summing up the month that had just past. Then life got both complicated and overwhelming, so much so I was just going from day-to-day in complete survival mode. With this new year I'm getting back into the practices of my past that I have missed.